Scouring pad containing phosphoric acid ester-fatty acid soap mixtures

ABSTRACT

A scouring pad comprising a fine metal wire pad and a detergent adhered thereto, wherein the detergent comprises a salt of an ester of phosphoric acid having the formula (I): 
     
         [R(OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.m ].sub.x PO.sub.4 H.sub.3-x-y M.sub.y (I) 
    
     wherein R is alkyl or alkenyl having 10 to 22 carbon atoms or alkylphenyl having 6 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, wherein said alkyl or alkenyl can be linear or branched, m is from 0 to 10, x is from 1.0 to 2.0, and y is from 0.5 to 2.0, with the proviso that the sum of x and y does not exceed 3, and M is an alkali metal, ammonium, alkanolamine, alkaline earth metal, zinc or aluminum cation, and a fatty acid soap having 10 to 22 carbon atoms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a scouring pad. More particularly, the invention relates to a scouring pad composed of a steel wool-like mat made of fine metal threads and a detergent adhered thereto.

Stains on cooking pots and pans caused by overflowing, scorching and cooking of foods, stains on stoves and ovens, grease stains on ventilation fans and stains on tile joints are commonly observed in homes. They are conspicuous, undesirable and difficult to remove. Detergents comprising an alkali and a solvent, ammonia and caustic alkalis, brasive cleansers, pot cleaners and brushes composed of steel wool, nylon and metals, spatulas, knives and the like have heretofore been used for removing these stains. The chemical actions of detergents and the like are quite effective for removing stains formed by modification or polymerization of oils caused by heat, light or air, but they are not very effective for removing stains formed by scorching and carbonizing of overflowed soups, oils and the like. The physical actions of mechanical polishing materials such as polishing cleaners and brushes composed of nylon, steel wool and metals not only remove the stains but also abrade the underlying surface. Therefore, the surface of the pot, pan, tile or plastic article is damaged and scratched by the stain-removing operation. Accordingly, the appearance of the cleaned surface is degraded to a matte finish and the cleaned surface can easily be contaminated with stains again. In the case of a soap-filled steel wool pad or cleaner, the amount of scratching is reduced as compared with the results obtained using a soap-free brush or cleaner, but the scratch-preventing effect is still insufficient.

We have discovered a scouring pad capable of achieving the following objects:

(1) The scouring pad has a high washing power such that it can remove effectively oil stains, scorching stains, roasting stains and the like;

(2) The scouring pad does not damage the underlying material such as steel plate, aluminum sheet, stainless steel sheet, tile, plastic article or the like;

(3) The detergent contained in the steel wool pad is not easily removed therefrom and the scouring pad is highly durable.

We have found that the foregoing objects can be attained by employing a scouring pad comprising a spongy mat of fine metal threads and a detergent impregnated therein, wherein the detergent comprises a mixture of a salt of a phosphoric acid ester and a fatty acid soap.

The phosphoric acid ester salt that is used in the present invention has the following formula (I):

    [R(OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.m ].sub.x PO.sub.4 H.sub.3-x-y M.sub.y (I)

wherein R is alkyl or alkenyl having 10 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms, or alkylphenyl having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, preferably 8 to 14 carbon atoms, in the alkyl group, wherein said alkyls and alkenyl can be linear or branched, m is from 0 to 10, preferably from 0 to 5, x is from 1.0 to 2.0, y is from 0.5 to 2.0, with the proviso that the sum of x and y does not exceed 3, and M is an alkali metal such as sodium or potassium, ammonium, alkanolamine such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine or triethanolamine, alkaline earth metal such as calcium or magnesium, zinc or aluminum cation.

The fatty acid soap that is used in the present invention includes salts of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids having 10 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms, with alkali metals such as sodium and potassium, ammonia, alkanolamine such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine, alkaline earth metals such as calcium and magnesium or polyvalent metals such as aluminum. From the viewpoints of best adherence to the fine metal threads and water solubility, a sodium salt of coconut fatty acid or beef-tallow fatty acid is preferably employed.

The amount of the phosphoric acid ester salt in the detergent composition is from 2 to 50% by weight, preferably 5 to 40% by weight, especially preferably 10 to 30% by weight, and the amount of the fatty acid soap is from 40 to 98% by weight, preferably 50 to 95% by weight, especially preferably 60 to 85% by weight.

The weight ratio of the detergent composition to the metal thread mat is from 0.2/1 to 2.0/1, preferably 0.5/1 to 1.5/1.

The detergent can optionally contain other water-soluble surface active agents and water-soluble inorganic salts in addition to the above-mentioned phosphoric acid ester salt and fatty acid soap.

As the optional surface active agents, there can be used anionic surface active agents, nonionic surface active agents and amphoteric surface active agents. As the anionic surface active agent, there can be mentioned, for example, alkyl sulfate salts having 10 to 22 carbon atoms, alkylbenzenesulfonate salts having 8 to 16 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate salts having 10 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and in which the molar number of added ethylene oxide units is from 1 to 10, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl sulfate salts having 8 to 12 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and in which the mole number of added ethylene oxide units is from 1 to 10, salts of α-olefin-sulfonic acids obtained by sulfonating an α-olefin having 10 to 18 carbon atoms, and salts of alkane-sulfonic acids obtained from paraffins having 10 to 20 carbon atoms. As the nonionic surface active agents, there can be mentioned, for example, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers formed by adding 1 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide to higher alcohols having 10 to 20 carbon atoms, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ethers formed by adding 1 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide to alkylphenols having an alkyl of 8 to 12 carbon atoms, glycerin esters of fatty acids having 10 to 20 carbon atoms, and fatty acid alkanolamides derived from fatty acids having 10 to 20 carbon atoms and alkanolamines such as diethanolamine and isopropanolamine. As the amphoteric surface active agent, there can be mentioned, for example, alkyl betaines, alkyl sulfobetaines, imidazole derivatives and alkyl alanines.

As the inorganic salt, there can be used, for example, sulfates such as sodium sulfate and potassium sulfate, carbonates such as sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate, silicates such as sodium metasilicate and sodium silicate No. 2, borates such as borax and sodium metaborate, and phosphates such as sodium orthophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium pyrophosphate. Alkali metal silicates and alkali metal phosphates (especially secondary phosphates) possess an excellent rust-preventing effect, and when these salts are incorporated in amounts of from 2 to 20% by weight, especially 5 to 12% by weight, in the detergent composition, scouring pads having especially good properties can be obtained. Further, anionic surface active agents have an effect of enhancing the washing power, and when they are incorporated in amounts of up to 10% by weight, preferably 2 to 7% by weight, in the detergent compositions, stains formed by carbonization of overflowed soups or oils can be effectively removed.

In addition, colorants, perfumes, fungicides and mildew-proofing agents can be incorporated in the detergents according to need.

When the thickness of the fine metal threads is too large, the surface to be treated is readily scratched and the tactile feel of the scouring pad is bad. If the thickness is too small, the polishing power is reduced. Accordingly, it is preferred that the diameter of the fine metal threads is from 1 to 500μ, especially 10 to 70μ. The cross-sectional shape of the fine metal threads that are used in the present invention is not critical, and fine metal threads having a triangular, square, circular or flat cross-section can be used in the present invention. Further, the material of which the fine metal threads are made is not critical, and any metals having a sufficient tensile strength to be formed in fine threads, such as plain carbon steel, stainless steel and brass, can be used. Plain carbon steel is especially preferred because it possesses an excellent polishing power and touch to the hand. A spongy metal thread mat having a circular, square, rectangular, oblong or elliptical shape (and having a sufficient thickness irrespective of its planar shape) can be used in the present invention.

The scouring pad of the present invention can be prepared by shaping the fine metal threads into an appropriate form, sprinkling thereon an aqueous solution of the detergent composition and heating the detergent-containing metal wire mat under pressure to dry same. Of course, the scouring pad of the present invention can be prepared according to other methods.

The present invention will now be described in more detail by reference to the following illustrative Examples that do not limit the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

Stains were removed by using mats of fine metal threads having a surface active agent, as indicated below, impregnated therein. The polishing power and the lubricating effect on an aluminum material were examined. The results shown in Table 1 were obtained. The polishing power and lubricating effect were determined by the following methods.

Measurement of Polishing Power

A paint was used as a specimen stain. The paint was coated and dried on an aluminum saucer having a thickness of 1 mm and a diameter of 7 cm. Then, 5 g of a 20% aqueous solution containing a surface active agent as indicated below was filled in the saucer, and a disc-like mat (having a weight of 3 g, a diameter of 5 cm and a thickness of 1.5 cm) of a steel wire (having an average diameter of 20 to 50μ) was pressed on the saucer under a load of 2 Kg and was rotated for 2 minutes by a laboratory motor whereby to scrub the saucer. The effect of polishing away the specimen stain was determined based on the difference between the weight of the saucer before the scrubbing and the weight of the saucer after the scrubbing. In Table 1, the polish amount is a relative value calculated on the basis that the amount of the change of the weight of the saucer attained by the use of only water (no surface active agent) as a polishing agent, is assigned the arbitrary value of 100.

The polish amount for aluminum was determined by conducting the above test by using an aluminum saucer which was not coated with the paint.

Measurement of Lubricating Property

The same specimen stain and aluminum material as used for the measurement of the polish amount were employed. The lubricating property was measured by using a tachometer to measure the speed of rotation (rpm) of the mat during the above-described polishing step. The lubricating property is expressed in terms of a relative value of the speed of rotation (rpm) of the mat calculated on the basis that the speed of rotation measured when only water was used is assigned the arbitrary value of 100.

Thus, in the following table, a polishing amount of over 100 shows that the surface active agent was more effective than plain water for removing the specimen stain. In like fashion, a lubricating property of over 100 shows that the surface active agent has a higher lubricating property than plain water.

                                      Table 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Polishing Power and Lubricating Property of Various Surface                    Active Agents to Stain and Aluminum                                                                       Stain      Aluminum                                                            Polish                                                                              Lubricating                                                                          Polish                                                                              Lubricating                         Surface Active Agent       Amount                                                                              Property                                                                             Amount                                                                              Property                            __________________________________________________________________________     disodium salt of monoester of phosphoric acid                                                              96  161   0    132                                 with coconut alcohol                                                           monopotassium stearyl sesquiphosphate                                                                      93  188   0    135                                 monoammonium beef-tallow alcohol diphosphate                                                               98  183   0    136                                 disodium decyl monophosphate                                                                               90  143   0    122                                 1.5Na salt of polyoxyethylene (added mole                                                                 121  159   0    144                                 number = 2) palmityl sesquiphosphate                                           monosodium polyoxyethylene (added mole                                                                    110  163   2    121                                 number = 10) lauryl sesquiphosphate                                            1.5Na salt of polyoxyethylene (added mole                                                                 105  172   5    117                                 number = 15) lauryl sesquiphosphate                                            1.5Na salt of oxo-alcohol (carbon number =                                                                109  181   0    138                                 12.5) sesquiphosphate                                                          monosodium dodecylphenyl diphosphate                                                                      115  158   0    135                                 monosodium polyoxyethylene (added mole                                                                    108  167   0    139                                 number = 3) nonylphenyl sesquiphosphate                                        sodium salt of coconut fatty acid                                                                          87  184   15   125                                 sodium dodecylbenzene-sulfonate                                                                           130  135   30   100                                 sodium dodecyl sulfate     110  139   24   109                                 polyoxyethylene (added mole number = 8) lauryl ether                                                      100  134   123   82                                 sodium secondary phosphate  90  113   57    98                                 sodium metasilicate        117  126   65   102                                 __________________________________________________________________________

From the results shown in Table 1, it will be apparent that various phosphoric acid ester salts have a higher polishing power to stains and a lower polishing power to aluminum and have a higher lubricating effect to stains and aluminum than other surface active agents.

EXAMPLE 2

A disc-like mat having a diameter of 5 cm and a thickness of 1.5 cm was formed from 5 g of a fine steel wire having an average diameter of 20 to 50μ, and 15 g of a 60% aqueous solution of an adherent detergent having the composition indicated below was applied to the mat. The mat was then heated under pressure to impregnate the adhering detergent composition into the interior of the mat. Then, the mat was dried to remove water whereby a scouring pad was obtained.

Sodium stearyl sesquiphosphate--20 wt. %

Sodium salt of coconut fatty acid--70 wt. %

Sodium secondary phosphate--10 wt. %

EXAMPLE 3

In the same manner as described in Example 2, scouring pads having applied thereto detergent compositions as set forth in Table 2, were prepared. The polishing power and lubricating property to stains and aluminum were measured. The results shown in Table 2 were obtained.

                                      Table 2                                      __________________________________________________________________________      (all % values are weight percent)                                             __________________________________________________________________________            1(present                                                                              2(present                                                                             3(present                                                                              4(present                                                                             5(present                                        invention)                                                                             invention)                                                                            invention)                                                                             invention)                                                                            invention)                                __________________________________________________________________________     Composition                                                                           sodium stearyl                                                                         monosodium                                                                            sodium poly-                                                                           sodium poly                                                                           diethanolamine                            of Applied                                                                            sesquiphos-                                                                            oxo-alcohol                                                                           oxyethylene                                                                            oxyethylene                                                                           dodecyl mono-                             Detergent                                                                             phate, 20%                                                                             (C.sub.12.5)                                                                          (added mole                                                                            (added mole                                                                           phosphate, 5%                                            sesquiphos-                                                                           number = 2)                                                                            number = 2)                                                     phate, 10%                                                                            palmityl ses-                                                                          stearyl ses-                                                           quiphosphate,                                                                          quiphosphate,                                                          20%     45%                                                     sodium salt                                                                            sodium salt                                                                           sodium pal-                                                                            sodium salt                                                                           sodium salt                                      of coconut                                                                             of beef-tallow                                                                        mitate, 70%                                                                            of beef-tallow                                                                        of coconut                                       fatty acid,                                                                            fatty acid,    fatty acid,                                                                           fatty acid,                                      70%     80%            50%    85%                                              sodium se-                                                                             sodium dode-                                                                          sodium secon-                                                                          sodium sili-                                                                          sodium dode-                                     condary cyl benzene-                                                                          dary phos-                                                                             cate No. 2,                                                                           cyl benzene-                                     phosphate,                                                                             sulfonate,                                                                            phate, 10%                                                                             5%     sulfonate, 5%                                    10%     5%                                                                     --      sodium sili-                                                                          --      --     sodium secon-                                            cate No. 2,           dary phos-                                               5%                    phate, 5%                                 Appearance,                                                                    etc.   good    good   good    good   good                                      Stain                                                                          polish amount                                                                         131     155    153     152    138                                       lubricating                                                                    effect 188     189    190     192    178                                       Aluminum                                                                       polish amount                                                                         0       0      0       0      0                                         lubricating                                                                    effect 149     148    145     156    140                                       __________________________________________________________________________            6(present                                                                              7      8       9      10                                               invention)                                                                             (comparison)                                                                          (comparison)                                                                           (comparison)                                                                          (comparison)                              __________________________________________________________________________     Composition                                                                           potassium po-                                                           of Applied                                                                            lyoxyethylene                                                           Detergent                                                                             (added mole                                                                    number = 3)                                                                    nonylphenyl                                                                    sesquiphos-                                                                    phage, 15%                                                                     sodium salt                                                                            commercially                                                                          sodium stearyl                                                                         sodium salt                                                                           sodium dodecyl                                   of coconut                                                                             available                                                                             sesquiphos-                                                                            of coconut                                                                            benzenesulfo-                                    fatty acid,                                                                            product A                                                                             phate, 100%                                                                            fatty acid,                                                                           nate, 100%                                       70%                    100%                                                    sodium α-                                                                olefin-                                                                        sulfonate,                                                                     5%                                                                             sodium se-                                                                     condary                                                                        phosphate,                                                                     10%                                                                     Appearance,                                                                    etc.   good    good   detergent was                                                                          good   detergent was                                                   not adhered in sticky and not                                                  good state     dried                                     Stain                                                                          polish amount                                                                         149     110    93      87     130                                       lubricating                                                                    effect 181     152    188     184    135                                       Aluminum                                                                       polish amount                                                                         0       25     0       15     30                                        lubricating                                                                    effect 145     117    132     125    100                                       __________________________________________________________________________

As will be apparent from the results shown in Table 2, when the phosphoric acid ester salt and soap were used in combination, the stain-polishing power is synergistically improved in comparison with the polishing power attained by the use of the ester salt or soap alone. Further, the aluminum surface is not substantially polished, and the lubricating effect to the stain surface or aluminum surface is high and the stain can be removed by a light rubbing force. Furthermore, the product of the present invention has higher stain-polishing power and lubricating effect than the commercially available product A. The commercially available product has a very high polishing power to aluminum and readily damages aluminum materials.

EXAMPLE 4

Stained articles were polished for 1 minute by applying the same force, using sample No. 2 of Example 3 and the commercially available product A. The removal of stains and scratching of the material were examined. The results obtained are shown in Table 3.

                                      Table 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________                                Peripheral Portion                                                    Pail     of Gas Range                                                                             Frying Pan                                        Gas Range Saucer                                                                         (polypropylene)                                                                         (Stainless steel)                                                                        (iron)                                            removal   removal  removal   removal                                           of stains                                                                           scratch                                                                             of stains                                                                           scratch                                                                            of stains                                                                           scratch                                                                             of stains                                                                           scratch                              __________________________________________________________________________     Sample No. 2                                                                   (Example 3)                                                                            O    O    O    O   O    O    O    O                                    Commercially                                                                   Available                                                                      Product A                                                                      (Comparison)                                                                           .increment.                                                                         .increment.                                                                         O    X   .increment.                                                                         X    .increment.                                                                         .increment.                          __________________________________________________________________________      Note removal of stains:                                                        O : well removed                                                               .increment. : moderately removed                                               X : not removed                                                                scratch:                                                                       O : not scratched                                                              .increment. : slightly scratched                                               X : considerably scratched                                               

EXAMPLE 5

The synergistic effects attained by the phosphoric acid ester salt and soaps in the present invention are shown in Table 4. As the phosphoric acid ester salt, a 1.5 Na salt of dodecyl monophosphate was used, and a sodium salt of beef-tallow fatty acid was used as the soap. A composition comprising a mixture of 90% of the phosphoric acid ester salt and soap and 10% of sodium silicate No. 2 was used. The scouring pads were prepared in the same manner as described in Example 2. The properties thereof were determined in the same manner as described in Example 3.

                                      Table 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Content (%) of                                                                         Content (%) of                                                         1.5Na salt of                                                                          sodium salt of   Stains    Aluminum                                    dodecyl mono-                                                                          beef-tallow      polish                                                                             lubricating                                                                          polish                                                                             lubricating                             phosphate                                                                              fatty acid                                                                             Appearance, etc.                                                                        amount                                                                             effect                                                                               amount                                                                             effect                                  __________________________________________________________________________     0       90      good     90  178   28  121                                     1       89      good     98  186   10  135                                     5       85      good     132 188   2   141                                     10      80      good     152 193   0   155                                     20      70      good     157 196   0   154                                     40      50      good, applied                                                                           130 195   0   156                                                     detergent                                                                      slightly dis-                                                                  lodged                                                         60      30      detergent did                                                                           115 195   0   156                                                     not adhere                                                                     well                                                           __________________________________________________________________________

As will be apparent from the results shown in Table 4, an especially high synergistic effect can be obtained when the phosphoric acid ester salt is incorporated in an amount of 5 to 40%, preferably 10 to 30%. When the amount of the phosphoric acid ester salt is too small, the stain-removing effect is reduced and aluminum is scratched. When the amount of the phosphoric acid ester salt is too large, adherence of the detergent is degraded and the applied detergent tends to fall out of the pad.

EXAMPLE 6

The influences of the amount of the detergent applied to a fine steel wire pad, on the polishing effect, are shown in Table 5. The detergent used comprised 20% of monosodium polyoxyethylene (mole number of added ethylene oxide=3) lauryl sesquiphosphate, 70% of a sodium salt of beef-tallow fatty acid and 10% of sodium secondary phosphate. The amount of the detergent impregnated in the pad was changed as indicated in Table 5. Scouring pads were prepared in the same manner as described in Example 2, and properties thereof were determined in the same manner as described in Example 3.

                                      Table 5                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Weight Ratio of         Stains    Aluminum                                     Applied Detergent       polish                                                                             lubricating                                                                          polish                                                                             lubricating                              to Fine Steel Wire                                                                       Appearance, etc.                                                                             amount                                                                             effect                                                                               amount                                                                             effect                                   __________________________________________________________________________     0         readily rusting and deformed                                                                 100 100   100 100                                      0.2       good, relatively more rust as                                                                132 186   3   139                                                compared with pads having                                                      larger amounts of applied                                                      detergent                                                            0.5       good          148 187   0   152                                      1.0       good          159 191   0   158                                      2.0       good          147 194   0   165                                      2.3       applied detergent fell out                                                                   123 198   0   173                                                in small masses                                                      __________________________________________________________________________

As will be apparent from the results shown in Table 5, when the amount of the applied detergent is small, the stain-removing effect is relatively low and the aluminum substrate is slightly scratched. Further, the steel wire tends to rust. If the amount of the applied detergent is too large, the stain-removing effect is degraded and the applied detergent readily falls out. Accordingly, good results are not obtained.

EXAMPLE 7

A disc-like mat was prepared from 20 g of brass wire having a rectangular cross-section of 20μ×400μ, and 20 g of a 60% aqueous solution of a detergent having the composition indicated below was applied to the mat and heated under pressure so that the applied detergent was impregnated into the interior of the mat. Then, water was removed from the mat by drying to obtain a scouring pad.

1.5 Na salt of beef-tallow alcohol sesquiphosphate--20%

Sodium salt of beef-tallow fatty acid--80%

EXAMPLE 8

A disc-like mat was prepared from 28 g of a fine stainless steel wire having a rectangular cross-section of 20μ×200μ, and 25 g of a 60% aqueous solution of a detergent having the composition indicated below was applied to the mat and heated under pressure so that the applied detergent was impregnated into the interior of the mat. Then, water was removed from the mat by drying to obtain a scouring pad.

Monosodium salt of beef-tallow alcohol sesquiphosphate--10%

Sodium salt of hardened beef-tallow fatty acid--90%

The scouring pads prepared in Examples 7 and 8 were used for actual removal of stains. The results shown in Table 6 were obtained. For comparison, the results obtained with respect to comparative pads having no detergent applied thereto are shown in Table 6. From the results shown in Table 6, it will readily be understood that if no detergent is applied, the material is readily scratched.

                                      Table 6                                      __________________________________________________________________________                    Stainless steel sink                                                                     Aluminum cooking pot                                                 removal of                                                                               removal of                                            Pad            stains                                                                               scratch                                                                            stains                                                                               scratch                                         __________________________________________________________________________     Example 7      O     O   O     O                                               Comparison (pad of Example 7                                                                  O     X   O     X                                               with no applied detergent)                                                     Example 8      O     O   O     O                                               Comparison (pad of Example 8                                                                  O     X   .increment.                                                                          x                                               with no applied detergent)                                                     __________________________________________________________________________      Note                                                                           Removal of Stains:                                                             O : well removed                                                               .increment. : moderately removed                                               X : not removed                                                                Scratch:                                                                       O : not scratched                                                              .increment. : slightly scratched                                               X : considerably scratched                                                

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or priviliege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A scouring pad comprising a spongy, fine metal thread pad and a detergent composition impregnated therein, said detergent composition consisting essentially of from 5 to 40 percent by weight of one or a mixture of phosphoric acid ester salts having the formula (I):

    [R(OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.m ].sub.x PO.sub.4 H.sub.3-x-y M.sub.y (I)

wherein R is alkyl or alkenyl having 10 to 22 carbon atoms or alkylphenyl having 6 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, wherein said alkyls or alkenyl can be linear or branched, m is from 0 to 10, x is from 1.0 to 2.0, y is from 0.5 to 2.0 with the proviso that the sum of x and y does not exceed 3, and M is an alkali metal, ammonium, alkanolamine, alkaline earth metal, zinc or aluminum cation, and from 50 to 95 percent by weight of fatty acid soap having 10 to 22 carbon atoms, the weight ratio of said detergent composition to said fine metal thread pad being from 0.2/1 to 2.0/1.
 2. A scouring pad as set forth in claim 1 wherein R is alkyl or alkenyl having 12 to 18 carbon atoms or an alkylphenyl group having 8 to 14 carbon atoms in the latter alkyl, m is from 0 to 5, and M is a member-selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, ammonium, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine.
 3. A scouring pad as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fine metal threads are made of plain carbon steel and have an average diameter of 10 to 70μ.
 4. A scouring pad as set forth in claim 1 in which the weight ratio of said detergent composition to said pad is from 0.5/1 to 1.5/1.
 5. A scouring pad as set forth in claim 4 in which said detergent composition contains from 10 to 30% by weight of said phosphoric acid ester salt and from 60 to 85% by weight of said soap.
 6. A scouring pad as set forth in claim 4 in which the sum of said phosphoric acid ester salt and said soap is at least 70% by weight of the total weight of said detergent composition and said detergent composition contains from 0 to 30% by weight of water-soluble, non-soap anionic, nonionic or amphoteric surfactants different from said phosphoric acid ester salt, or water-soluble inorganic salts or mixtures thereof.
 7. A scouring pad as set forth in claim 5 in which said detergent composition contains from 2 to 20% by weight of alkali metal silicates, alkali metal phosphates or mixtures thereof.
 8. A scouring pad as set forth in claim 5 in which said detergent composition consists of from 5 to 12% by weight of alkali metal silicate, alkali metal phosphate or mixture thereof, and the balance is said fatty acid soap and said phosphoric acid ester salt.
 9. A scouring pad as set forth in claim 5 in which said detergent composition consists of from 2 to 7 percent by weight of said water-soluble non-soap synthetic anionic surfactant, and the balance is said fatty acid soap and said phosphoric acid ester salt.
 10. A scouring pad as set forth in claim 5 in which said detergent composition consists of from 5 to 12 percent by weight of alkali metal phosphate, alkali metal silicate or mixture thereof, from 2 to 7 percent by weight of said water-soluble non-soap synthetic anionic surfactant, and the balance is said fatty acid soap and said phosphoric acid ester salt. 